Canoe adventure was plain sailing for Hartlepool kids

It was plain sailing for a group of children who learned to canoe as they strive to achieve an environmental award.
Pupils worked towards the John Muir environmental award by spending a day canoeing.Pupils worked towards the John Muir environmental award by spending a day canoeing.
Pupils worked towards the John Muir environmental award by spending a day canoeing.

A group of adventurous youngsters from Clavering Primary School spent a full day canoeing on the River Esk, in the picturesque North York Moors, to gain a Canoe England Award.

The wet and wild adventure was one of a series of outdoor challenges that the children are also completing as part of the John Muir Award.

The Clavering pupils worked towards the John Muir environmental award by spending a day canoeing.The Clavering pupils worked towards the John Muir environmental award by spending a day canoeing.
The Clavering pupils worked towards the John Muir environmental award by spending a day canoeing.
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Deputy headteacher, Neil McAvoy, who runs the John Muir Award programme at Clavering school, said: “We had three groups of children canoeing over three days in various weather conditions, all with the same objective: to show the necessary grit and determination to reach Whitby harbour.

“Once again, I was very proud of our Year 6 pupils, who showed great character and perseverance to complete their journeys on the River Esk.”

The canoeing challenge also resulted in the pupils gaining their Paddlepower Start award by paddling a stretch of the River Esk, from Ruswarp to Whitby.

Clavering Primary School is an official provider of the John Muir Award Programme, which is the culmination of the school’s residential programme which helps people of all ages connect with nature.

The pupils spent a full day canoeing on the River Esk on the North York Moors.The pupils spent a full day canoeing on the River Esk on the North York Moors.
The pupils spent a full day canoeing on the River Esk on the North York Moors.
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The Clavering programme starts from school Year 3 when the pupils are aged seven.

Mr McAvoy added: “As part of the children’s work towards achieving the John Muir Award, we provide them with the opportunity to complete challenges in a variety of wild places and different environments.”

Clavering headteacher, Helen O’Brien, said: “It is always incredibly rewarding to see how our children embrace the opportunities that they are given as part of Mr McAvoy’s programme.”

“The John Muir Trust, which awarded us with John Muir Award Provider Status in 2012, has been particularly impressed by how Mr McAvoy strategically uses our John Muir Award Programme to enhance and extend our pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.”

Any school or youth group interested in finding out more about the John Muir Award can contact Mr McAvoy at Clavering Primary School or visit https://www.jmt.org/